Reginald VelJohnson, best known for his role on Family Matters, expressed his surprise at the outpouring of support he received during his recent appearance on Dancing with the Stars. In an emotional moment after his performance, the 72-year-old actor shared that he had not realized how much fans appreciated his work until he saw comments on social media.
Speaking with PEOPLE, VelJohnson credited his dance partner Emma Slater for introducing him to the warm reception online. “I didn’t know about it until I met Emma,” he explained, adding that he was “very surprised and thankful for all the support” they’ve garnered since joining the competition.
Though VelJohnson typically doesn’t check social media frequently, Slater made it a point to share the positive feedback with him. “It really warms my heart how much love he’s getting,” she noted, highlighting the strong bond they have developed throughout their time on the show.
During this week’s episode, VelJohnson paid homage to his former co-star Bruce Willis, who is currently battling dementia, by reprising his iconic role from Die Hard. “Working with Bruce Willis was an experience I’ll never forget. He was very kind to me in my first major role,” VelJohnson recalled fondly. He added, “This week, it’s a tribute to my friend Bruce Willis. If you think I’m going out on double elimination, then yippee ki-yay motherf—er!”
After receiving feedback from the judges to incorporate more movement in his routines, VelJohnson and Slater showcased a graceful paso doble set to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Judge Carrie Ann Inaba commended their progress, saying, “You’re not playing at the 10 yet, but you are baby-stepping your way there, sir.” Meanwhile, Derek Hough humorously remarked, “This is the only place you’ll see a cop in a cumberbund!”
Thanks to their captivating performances, VelJohnson and Slater have quickly become fan favorites, and America voted to keep them in the running for the coveted mirrorball trophy for another week.
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